Three Chiefs That Must Step Up In Carolina

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

LT Eric Fisher

I should start this by saying that I think Fisher has been somewhat unfairly piled on as a disaster in the Bengals game. True, it was his man who got QB Alex Smith on the strip-sack, but on that play, the pocket was collapsing on all sides, Smith just happened to step in Fisher’s direction, which allowed DE Robert Geathers to reach in and get him. Smith admitted as much after the game.

Still, the Chiefs said they believed Fisher was the best overall prospect in the 2013 draft and selected him #1 as such. After a mixed first season, it is time for Fisher to prove he’s even above average.

This is especially the case because of the condition of the Chiefs’ tackle depth. Starting RT Donald Stephenson would be the most likely candidate to swing over to the left if Fisher can’t cut it, but he has been injured off and on since July. Behind Stephenson on the depth chart are Jeff Linkenbach and J’Marcus Webb, who, along with backup RG Rishaw Johnson, were the only Chiefs offensive linemen who received negative ratings by Pro Football Focus in the Bengals game.

The team is counting on Fisher now more than ever.